We have to assume no trades other than the trade the Cowboys made with the Eagles or this doesn't work. How can I say for example, I would have taken the Chicago deal without knowing if that deal or any other deal was available. Or, what about trading up in round 3 to take McNeill or Milton Williams? Was that deal available? Also, we now know how the draft played our so we know which players dropped into the later rounds. That's cheating. So just looking at the board where the Cowboys were drafting here is how I might have done it.
12. Slater OL - but I would have tried like heck to trade down. I think Slater helps the OL more than Parsons helps the defense. It is a close call but I would put Slater in at LG for now and if Collins' hip is a problem he can play right tackle.
44. Joseph CB - Over Asante Samuel because of size and speed.
75. Surratt, Chazz LB - Best rated DP on the board at that point IMO and too soon to take offense.
84. Odighizuwa DT if he was available at 84. If not then I might have jumped at Cox in this position.
99. Melifonwu CB - With the OL problem address I keep going defense. CB depth is important too. I might take Ambry here because of his speed over Melifonwu.
115. Jabril Cox LB -have to take him here. Best value.
138. Tyree Gillespie S - Not the biggest safety but he has a lot of speed and I like a lot of speed in the secondary. I want QBs to worry about the range of my DBs when they throw downfield.
179. Simi Fehoko WR - I watched his pro-day I I was thoroughly impressed. I wanted this guy and he is available at 179.
192. Jaylen Twyman DT - He had an excellent 2019 season if I am not mistaken. Plus, I like really strong guys in the middle of the line - on both sides of the ball. This guy did 40 reps of the bench press which tells me he has great upper body strength and is stronger than most OGs and Cs. I hate hearing "this guy or that guy needs to get stronger in the offseason.
226. Tonga, Khyiris DT - Another big strong DT. He is redundant with Twyman but he is also a late 7th round pick. I am hoping one of them works out. If both do then I have two guys I sub in on short yardage downs to absolutely stuff the middle while my LBs get a clean shot at the ball carrier.
I am being honest here based on the board and not knowing the Cowboys plans for revamping the defense. These are not the guys I wanted necessarily. Most of the guys I wanted went a pick or two before the Cowboys drafted like Surtain, Moehrig, McNeill/Williams, and so on. I loved Anthony Schwartz going into the draft and thought I would select him at 115. When he was picked at 91, I was a little surprised, but it happens every draft. Then Derrick Barnes went at 113, another one of my favorites, which was a little early for him. Tommy Togiai went at 131, and Jacoby Stevens at 224.
Given the Cowboys apparent plans to change the way they play defense, I think they did a pretty good job drafting where they were. Perhaps they could have been a bit more aggressive moving up for certain players, but when revamping a defense perhaps volume is more important that quality.